Macintyre Falls lookout

Kwiambal National Park

Open, check current alerts 

Overview

Adjacent to a well-equipped picnic area, Macintyre Falls lookout offers scenic views over the river, with nearby swimming, hiking and fishing opportunities.

Type
Lookouts
Accessibility
Hard
What to
bring
Hat, sunscreen, drinking water
Please note
  • The weather in this area can be extremely cold during winter and unpredictable. Please ensure you’re well-prepared, bring appropriate clothing and equipment and advise a family member or friend of your travel plans.
  • There is limited mobile reception in this park

Just a short drive from Lemon Tree Flat campground is Macintyre Falls picnic area, with tables and barbecues offering an ideal place to settle down for lunch in the shade of white cypress pines. Before you do though, follow a 200 metre trail to Macintyre Falls lookout, with great views and birdwatching over the high, scenic gorge and rushing waterfall.

While it’s tempting to linger here, there are plenty of other attractions in the surrounding area to compete for your attention. Steps and a boardwalk have been built right down to the river (600m), where a plunge pool provides a terrific swimming spot surrounded by nature. At a small adjacent beach you can also swim under the towering cliff on the Macintyre’s northern bank.

Bring a fishing rod too: Murray cod, catfish, and golden perch are plentiful in the water. Be sure to mind the slippery rocks though.

For directions, safety and practical information, see visitor info

Nearby

  • A person sitting at a picnic table next to a shelter and water tank at Macintyre Falls picnic area in Kwiambal National Park. Photo © DPE

    Macintyre Falls picnic area

    Macintyre Falls picnic area is in Kwiambal National Park near Macintyre Falls lookout. It’s a great spot to stop for lunch when you’re exploring the park or if you're visiting the village of Ashford.

  • Macintyre Falls in Kwiambal National Park. Photo © DPE

    Rock Pool walking track

    Rock Pool walking track is in Kwiambal National Park, near Macintyre Falls picnic area. Use this short trail from Macintyre Falls lookout to reach a large, natural pool fed by the falls.

Map


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Current alerts in this area

There are no current alerts in this area.

Local alerts

For the latest updates on fires, closures and other alerts in this area, see https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/things-to-do/lookouts/macintyre-falls-lookout/local-alerts

General enquiries

Park info

See more visitor info

Visitor info

All the practical information you need to know about Macintyre Falls lookout.

Getting there and parking

Macintyre Falls lookout is in the northwest precinct of Kwiambal National Park. To get there:

  • From Ashford, take Wallangra Road north west.
  • Turn right onto Sandy Creek Road
  • Then left onto Limestone Road and continue into Kwiambal National Park
  • Turn left onto Macintyre Falls Road and follow to the end.

Alternatively:

  • Travel along Inverell Street in Ashford and turn onto Limestone Road.
  • At the intersection of Limestone Road and Sandy Creek Road turn right, and continue into Kwiambal National Park.

Road quality

  • Unsealed roads

Vehicle access

  • 2WD vehicles

Weather restrictions

  • All weather

Parking

Parking is available at Macintyre Falls picnic area.

Best times to visit

There are lots of great things waiting for you in Kwiambal National Park. Here are some of the highlights.

Spring

Between the warmer months of September and March, spectacular wildflower displays decorate the bush beneath white cypress pines.

Summer

The many swimming opportunities, including rivers, secluded beaches, and even a plunge pool, makes Kwiambal a terrific destination in the height of summer.

Weather, temperature and rainfall

Summer temperature

Average

16.9°C and 30.6°C

Highest recorded

41.2°C

Winter temperature

Average

2.7°C and 18°C

Lowest recorded

-6.3°C

Rainfall

Wettest month

January

Driest month

June

The area’s highest recorded rainfall in one day

160mm

Facilities

  • Drinking water is not available in this area, so it’s a good idea to bring your own.
  • Firewood is not supplied and may not be collected from the park

Toilets

  • Non-flush toilets

Picnic tables

Barbecue facilities

  • Wood barbecues (bring your own firewood)
  • Gas/electric barbecues (free)

Carpark

Drinking water

Maps and downloads

Safety messages

Waterfall safety

Waterfalls are beautiful destinations but please be safe when visiting these natural wonders. Read these waterfall safety tips before exploring waterfalls on your next walk.

Accessibility

Disability access level - hard

Wheelchairs can access this area with some difficulty.

Permitted

Fishing

A current NSW recreational fishing licence is required when fishing in all waters.

Prohibited

Gathering firewood

Pets

Pets and domestic animals (other than certified assistance animals) are not permitted. Find out which regional parks allow dog walking and see the pets in parks policy for more information.

Smoking

NSW national parks are no smoking areas.

Learn more

Macintyre Falls lookout is in Kwiambal National Park. Here are just some of the reasons why this park is special:

Aboriginal cultural heritage

Macintyre Falls, Kwiambal National Park. Photo: Michael van Ewijk

Kwiambal takes its name from the aboriginal people of the Ashford district. Rich in food, water and materials, the area provided a year-round living environment for their ancestors, with sacred sites and hunting grounds spread throughout the park.

Animals

Eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), Kwiambal National Park. Photo: Michael van Ewijk

There are five rare or threatened plant species in the park: severn wattle, Rodd’s star hair, caustic vine, daisy bush and toadflax. Feel free to look, but please be careful not to damage the plants. In the warmer months of September to March, the wildflowers bloom throughout the bush. Like its flowers, Kwiambal is home to dozens of notable animal species, including 32 types of reptile, 11 frogs, and 30 species of mammal. Some 18 species are threatened or endangered, including koalas, squirrel gliders, and five-clawed worm skinks. There are also an astonishing 101 types of bird, making the park a hot spot for avid birders. Keep an eye out for painted honeyeaters, barking owls, hooded robins, and diamond firetails.

  • Dungeon lookout Where Severn River enters a steep gorge, you’ll find The Dungeon, with this lookout offering superb views down into the swell, particularly after rain.
  • Macintyre Falls lookout Adjacent to a well-equipped picnic area, Macintyre Falls lookout offers scenic views over the river, with nearby swimming, hiking and fishing opportunities.
  • Slippery Rock walking track Slippery Rock walking track in Kwiambal National Park, near Inverell, offers spectacular gorge views as well as fishing, birdwatching and vibrant wildflowers in spring.

Historic heritage

Macintyre River, Kwiambal National Park. Photo: OEH

The flat areas of the park have been subjected to farming of tobacco, giving way to cereal crops and the mining of various minerals and sapphires. Unsurprisingly then, there are a number of historical landmarks within the park, including tobacco-drying sheds, woolsheds, fruit trees, storage sheds, and the remains of a house. History enthusiasts will want to seek these out on a visit.

Native rainforest

Slippery Rock walking track, Kwiambal National Park. Photo: Michael Van Ewijk

Kwiambal contains 15 per cent of the native dry rainforest left in NSW. The vegetation is dominated by white cypress pines, silver-leaved ironbarks, and tumbledown gums. Unfortunately, much of the planning area has been subjected to logging in the past, though considerable regeneration makes it a worthy destination for nature-lovers. 

  • Dungeon lookout Where Severn River enters a steep gorge, you’ll find The Dungeon, with this lookout offering superb views down into the swell, particularly after rain.
  • Junction walk Junction walk offers a stroll through ironbarks and pine trees to the meeting of Severn and Macintyre rivers, with swimming, picnicking, and birdwatching opportunities.
  • Macintyre Falls lookout Adjacent to a well-equipped picnic area, Macintyre Falls lookout offers scenic views over the river, with nearby swimming, hiking and fishing opportunities.
  • Slippery Rock walking track Slippery Rock walking track in Kwiambal National Park, near Inverell, offers spectacular gorge views as well as fishing, birdwatching and vibrant wildflowers in spring.

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